Mondrago Natural Park is a beautiful area of beaches, forested coastal and cliff-side walks very close to the popular resorts of Santanyi and Cala d’Or in the southeast of Mallorca.
It is home to two of my favorite beaches in Mallorca, Cala Mondrago and Cala S’Amarador. Picture this: fine white sands, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and a backdrop of lush pine forests and rugged cliffs. It doesn’t get much better.
As someone who loves to explore hidden gems, I can tell you that this place is special. Yes, it is definitely popular, but it somehow doesn’t feel as touristy as the surrounding beach areas. And I very rarely see people talking about it.
So let me show you why Mondrago Natural Park should be at the top of your Mallorca itinerary!
Article overview
Mondrago Natural Park
Mondrago Natural Park, or Parc natural de Mondragó in Spanish, is a true haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about it.
When researching before my first trip to Mallorca years ago, all I could see were people hyping Instagram hotspots such as Cala Deia, Alcudia, Sollér and Cala Pi, which I totally get because all those places are gorgeous. However, I ended up in Mondrago Nature Park by chance and I fell in love.
Beyond the beaches, which also includes Caló des Borgit, Mondrago Natural Park is a paradise for hikers, bikers and birdwatchers. The park features a network of well-marked trails that wind through pine forests, rocky cliffs and open meadows.
Imposing cliffs rise out of crystal clear waters and the wetlands Ses Fonts de n’Alis with its migratory birds complete the pretty picture. This includes rare bird species such as the Audouin’s gull and the Balearic warbler.
You can choose between four walking routes through the park, all of them are easy and can be completed in less than an hour, even with children in tow. Just look for the many maps and signs.
How to get there
Renting a car is the best way to get the most out of your time in Mallorca. Some of the most beautiful places are not connected to public transport. Usually, I don’t like driving in unknown places, but it was totally fine in Mallorca.
I always rent through DiscoverCars, however, in Mallorca, it doesn’t get better than offUgo. Pick-up and drop-off is 100% contactless and the price includes full insurance without excess fee, in addition to 24/7 pick-up.
Cala mondrago parking
There are two main parking lots close to the beaches. If you arrive by car, I highly recommend you park on the S’Amarador side where you can walk through nature to the beach.
If you park close to Cala Mondrago, you have to walk 5+ minutes down a narrow road where the bus drives up and down all day. People also park along this road so it feels very busy and crowded. On this side, there is a small information center about the park.
On both sides, parking currently costs €6 for the day. Parking attendants keep an eye on everything throughout the day during the summer months.
By bus
If you’re staying in Cala d’Or, the most popular tourist hub on the east coast, you can take bus route 521 which stops right next to Cala Mondrago. It runs fairly regularly throughout the day and takes around 30 minutes. You can easily pay by tapping your card when you enter and exit.
If you are coming from other places on the island, just search for your route on Google Maps and it will tell you which bus to take. We combined it with a trip to Santanyi Market by taking the bus to Santanyi and then a taxi to Cala S’Amarador for around €12.50.
Join a guided tour
If you don’t want to rent a car or deal with public transport, I highly recommend this full-day tour of Mondrago Natural Park. It is how I first discovered this gorgeous part of Mallorca.
You get to spend time at Cala Mondrago, Cala S’Amarador and Cala Barca, three of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Just click below for more information.
Cala Mondrago
In Spanish, the word “cala” refers to a small bay or cove. These are typically sheltered, often inlets along the coast, characterized by their calm waters and sandy or rocky beaches. While often referred to as just Cala Mondrago, the beach here is called Ses Fonts de n’Alís.
Of all the coves and beaches in Mondrago Natural Park, this is the most touristy. Yet it doesn’t feel too crowded. During the summer months, there are lifeguards on duty and water toys for rent such as paddle boats with slides, you know those big colorful ones and SUP boards.
To the back of the beach you can rent sunbeds and parasols, I think I paid €15 for two people. In July and August, all the beds are usually taken by 11:00 am.
The rest of the beach is free for people to use, most bringing their own parasols to get some shade from the intense Mallorcan sun. It is so nice with beaches that aren’t covered in expensive sunbeds.
The highlight of Cala Mondrago is, of course, its excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities. The calm, crystal-clear water makes it an ideal spot for families.
In the park area next to the beach, there are tables in the shade where you can enjoy your lunch when it gets too hot. This is also the start of route no. 2, which you can follow along the coast into the woods.
It takes you towards Caló des Borgit, a small sandy cove beach surrounded by a rocky ledge. The route only takes 15 minutes one way.
This beach is very small, but mostly locals know about it, so it doesn’t get too crowded until later in the day. I loved walking here in the morning to get some steps in before breakfast.
Amenities
Right behind the beach, you’ll find Hotel Playa Mondrago. It is the only hotel in Mondrago Natural Park which is great because nothing kills the vibe more than a ton of highrise hotels.
The hotel features a great restaurant for dinner, and there’s also a popular restaurant on the opposite side of the beach. It is called Sa Font de n’Alis and it gets very crowded during lunchtime. So get there around noon to get one of the cute seats under the straw umbrellas.
Here you’ll find typical tourist restaurant dishes ranging from pizza and pasta to salads and paella. The food is ok, but the beachside setting is, of course, the highlight.
Next to the hotel, there is also a small kiosk, where you can find sunscreen, snorkeling gear, postcards, ice cream and snacks.
Cala S’Amarador
For me, Cala S’Amarador is the highlight of Mondrago Natural Park. You can walk there in under a minute from Cala Mondrago along the path.
Imagine stepping onto soft, white sand that stretches out to meet the clearest, bluest water you’ve ever seen. It’s the kind of place where I could spend all day every day and not get tired of it.
What I love about Cala S’Amarador is its natural, unspoiled beauty. Surrounded by lush pine forests and rugged cliffs, it feels like you’ve stumbled upon a secret paradise. Only a small area is taken up by paid sunbeds and umbrellas.
If you feel like keeping active, one of the park routes starts right before the stairs down to the beach. It leads to S’Amarador viewpoint, or Mirador de S’Amarador, which only takes 5 minutes or so to reach.
It’s hard to believe it is possible, but the view from up here, over more of the unbelievably blue seas and sandy beaches, is even more spectacular.
Amenities
When we arrived around 11:00 am all the sunbeds were already taken. So the next day we decided to be there at 9:00 am, but that was too early because no one came to unlock the sunbed until 9:45 am.
There’s also a small snack bar selling smoothies, ice cream, cold drinks and some simple dishes. A sign behind the bar points to a WC, but I never dared to use it.
The water here is perfect for swimming or a bit of snorkeling—trust me, the underwater world is just as stunning as the beach itself. Rarely do I spend hours in the water, but here I just can’t help myself. I swam and played to the point where I started feeling unwell, which I haven’t done since I was a kid.
Some people also jumped from the high cliffs on the right side of the beach, and even the roof of the fisherman’s house. I, however, kept to the slightly lower rocks on the opposite side.
Where to stay
I got a great deal on Hotel Playa Mondrago when booking in April for July. I always recommend booking accommodation in Mallorca at least 3 if not 4 months in advance. I paid around $900 for a week in late July. When I checked the same room a month before our trip, it cost $1300 for the same room.
The hotel overlooks Cala Mondrago and the bus to Cala D’Or stops right outside the door. We stayed in an ocean-view room and it got extremely hot during the day so we couldn’t use our balcony. But the view was worth it and our towels dried in under 15 minutes. Haha.
Our room was light and bright, newly refurbished. There are also budget rooms available, but I’m pretty sure they only come with a fan which I can’t in good conscience recommend for summer in Mallorca.
Most room options include a buffet breakfast, with designated tables depending on your room. I did not appreciate this practice, having to sit in a corner when I was one of the first down for breakfast. But other than that, our stay was great. The location is perfect!
🌟 Click here for current pricing and availability >> Hotel Playa Mondrago
I also really liked our stay in Cala Figuera, a quiet and authentic fishing village just 10 minutes from Mondrago Natural Park. The charming port is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. You can read more about it in my complete Cala Figuera guide.
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